Vocations Team is planting seeds for the future

"It's going really well," said Sister Kitty Hanley, CSJ, who provides basic information on vocations and leads a support group for women interested in religious life. "We set some early priorities; I've been distributing materials and answering questions."

Sister Kitty has developed pamphlets like "What is Discernment?" and "Vocation Choices for Catholics," and created a poster promoting religious life. She has started a vocations newsletter with articles and lists of resources, and is assembling "seed packets" free to any interested parties. The packets, titled "Plant a Future," include flower seeds, a prayer card and artwork by Sister Loretta Hoag, DC. She is also working on the Vocations Office's web site.

Recruitment

To promote that vision, Father Walsh speaks at a different parish in the Diocese every weekend. About 60 parishes have been covered so far. The priest also addresses religious education classes and other groups. "I grab every opportunity I can to speak in front of people," he said.

Father Walsh leads a support group for men interested in religious life and is also working on a brochure about priesthood. On Feb. 12, he will host a day of reflection for men considering a vocation, an event to be repeated twice a year.

"We've been received pretty well in terms of the Diocese," he told The Evangelist. "We can't do this by ourselves; we really need the help of the people."

In touch

A young priest himself, he added, "It's been a year of a lot of learning for me, not being the seminarian now -- being on the other side of the fence. It's a renewal for myself: What am I about as a priest?"

His experience as pastor of St. Joseph's parish in Greenwich has given Father Konopka some insights that he shares with the seminarians. In talking over a problem one man had, he said, "I was able to bring in an experience I just had in the parish and say, `This is why we need to work on this issue.'"

Aside from meeting with future priests, Father Konopka is creating a pamphlet that will answer their questions about summer parish assignments and other concepts that are new to them.

'Slow process'

"It's a slow process," Father Walsh remarked. "It's going to take time. Vocations is an attitude; it takes a while to develop the attitude that `we're going to promote vocations.'"

In addition, he said, "Young people are under tremendous pressure. Society defines success differently that we do. That flies in the face of a vocation. It makes it hard for young people to consider one."

Father Konopka admitted that "I wish we had a few more seminarians. I would like to be busier as a director of formation! I hope parishes see they have a really sacred role in trying to form these guys."

Interest rising

"There's some increase of interest," she said. "I don't know where it's going to go. Many, many people have said, `I'm going to put up a bulletin board' or `I'm going to distribute materials.' It's been very moving to interact with a number of parents who wish to become involved. There are so many men and women out there saying, `This [vocation] is a good choice.'"

In May, at Spring Enrichment, Sister Kitty will speak on training catechists to teach about vocations. The team hopes that such encouragement will spark Catholics to promote more vocations.

"I don't think there's a vocations shortage -- just a lack of response," Father Konopka stated. "We need some good people open to God's spirit."

As for the team approach, Father Walsh said, "It seems to have worked out pretty well so far. We're just going to keep working at it and see what happens."

(Contact the Vocations Team at 453-6670.)

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